Suzann Pettersen and Stacy Lewis reflect on the week so far and how the teams are feeling heading into the Solheim Cup Sunday Singles matches

As the Solheim Cup heads into its decisive Sunday singles matches, Team Europe Captain Suzann Pettersen and Team USA Captain Stacy Lewis shared their reflections on the weekend's play and the mindset of their teams.

Pettersen's Team Europe seeks a miracle

Despite trailing Team USA by a daunting 10-6 scoreline, Pettersen remained optimistic, citing the need for a "massive day" from her squad. With their backs against the wall, Team Europe faces a situation similar to the 2012 "Miracle at Medinah," where Europe made an astonishing comeback in the Ryder Cup. Pettersen is no stranger to such dramatic turnarounds, having been part of a historic U.S. comeback in the 2015 Solheim Cup.

“We’re still in it. We need a massive day tomorrow. We need to go another record singles series again,” Pettersen stated. “It will be a miracle, but we’ve seen it before.”

When asked about her strategy for the singles pairings, Pettersen emphasised the importance of sending out players who are currently in form. “If we don’t get enough points in the first six or seven matches, it’s game over,” she said, explaining that Europe’s strongest players would be positioned at the top of the lineup to chase early points. “But first of all, we have to cover the first top half.”

Reflecting on Saturday's matches, Pettersen felt her team performed admirably but missed crucial opportunities, particularly in putting. "Tee to green, I think we're playing fantastic. We obviously are not making any putts, and that's the difference in what you see on the scores," she observed.

The emotional highlight of the day came when European veterans Emily Kristine Pedersen and Carlota Ciganda delivered a critical win. Pedersen, a captain’s pick, proved her worth, and Pettersen couldn't hide her admiration. "People might say Emily was a gutsy pick. In my mind, she’s an obvious pick. I know what she's capable of," Pettersen shared. “This week she's enjoying herself so much… that’s what Solheim does.”

Lewis confident in Team USA’s momentum

On the American side, Captain Stacy Lewis beamed with pride at her team’s consistent performance, which has allowed them to maintain their four-point advantage heading into Sunday. Comparing it to following up a stellar round of golf, Lewis said, “It was a very successful day for us… to come out of the day with the same lead that we started was really big for us.”

Lewis credited key moments on the back nine for keeping Team USA’s momentum alive. She explained how strategic placement of players in the alternate shot format paid off. "There’s a six-hole stretch there on the back nine… and we really took advantage of that part of the golf course," Lewis said, citing her team’s dominance on hole 14 in particular.

Having been part of the U.S. comeback from the same score in 2015, Lewis knows first-hand that no lead is safe. “We had a lot of things go right that day, and it was more the motivation factor. But now we know — I think the biggest thing is we know it can happen.”

While mindful of Europe’s potential to mount a charge, Lewis is confident in her team’s ability to close the deal. "We’ve got to get off to a great start like we’ve done all week, use the crowd, and finish it off as quick as we can," she said. The singles lineup, she admitted, was a difficult one to finalize due to the consistently strong play from her squad. “The singles lineup was actually very difficult because we had so many playing good, which is a great problem to have.”

Lewis also highlighted the chemistry and joy within her team, which has been a refreshing change after two defeats and one tie in the Solheim Cup. “To stand back on that first tee and watch them jumping around and dancing and having fun, it’s pure joy. It’s not fake,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed that more than I enjoy the scoreboard.”

As both captains look ahead to the final day, the excitement is palpable. Pettersen’s European side will seek to pull off a miracle, while Lewis and her American team hope to complete their “unfinished business” and bring the Solheim Cup back to U.S. soil.

View all the scoring from the 2024 Solheim Cup here.